Facebook bans white nationalism on its platforms in wake of Christchurch shooting

AAP

AAP

Thursday, 28 March 2019 8:02 am

Facebook says it will ban all white supremacy and white nationalism content from its platforms.Image: AAP

Facebook has banned praise, support and representation of white nationalism and white separatism on its social media platforms and will redirect anyone who searches for them to an anti-hate organisation.

The policy will be enforced next week, the social media giant said in a blog on Wednesday.

The spotlight turned on white supremacy and nationalism after Australian Brenton Tarrant allegedly shot dead 50 people during Friday prayers at two Christchurch mosques and live streamed it to Facebook.

Facebook, Twitter and Alphabet's YouTube then fell under pressure to remove white supremacist and neo-Nazi content from their platforms.

Chevron Right Icon'We will not tolerate praise or support for white nationalism and separatism.'

In response, Facebook has beefed up its content monitoring teams and has taken down event pages that were used to promote and organise rallies by white supremacy groups.

Facebook says it will also start connecting people who search for terms associated with white supremacy to an organisation called Life After Hate, focused on helping people leave hate groups.

"People will be able to let us know when they see content praising, supporting or representing white nationalism and separatism via our reporting tools on every post," a Facebook spokesperson told 7NEWS.com.au.

Al Noor mosque in Christchurch.Image: Kydpl Kyodo/AAP

The company previously allowed some white nationalist content it did not view as racist, but recently decided to change course.

"Over the past three months our conversations with members of civil society and academics who are experts in race relations around the world have confirmed that white nationalism and separatism cannot be meaningfully separated from white supremacy and organised hate groups," Facebook said in a statement.

"Going forward ... we will not tolerate praise or support for white nationalism and separatism."